The SBU is one of the leading research poles in the field of macromolecular X-ray crystallography in Spain.

The SBU aims to understand the cell machinery and physiological processes from a structural and functional perspective using molecular and structural biology techniques as X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. Studying proteins, nucleic acids and their interactions to elucidate the molecular basis of physiological processes and pathology is the principal interest of SBU researchers.

The SBU is part of the Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB), a strategic research center from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).